Page 10 of Fearless to Love

“My sister as much as she’s capable. I love her, but she’s not the most nurturing. If I didn’t show up for work, she’d call looking for me, but only because she doesn’t want to take the brunt of the work.”

“You’ve got me now and if you don’t call or show up, I’ll worry. I promise.”

His face softened as his eyes lit up. “Thank you. You’ve got me now too.” His eyes went in the direction of the front door. “Do you think she really left?”

I couldn’t help but giggle. I wouldn’t put it passed Tillie to stand outside and listen. I lifted up and scanned the window by the front door. “We should probably get up, anyway.”

I sat up and the blanket fell down to my lap displaying my breasts. Dante swiped his tongue over his bottom lip and my core clenched at the sight.

Dante definitely got my libido going.

“Um…I was wondering,” he looked up giving me his full attention, “every month, some of my friends get together at each other’s houses for dinner and tonight is my night to host. I was wondering if you wanted to stay and meet them.”

“Yes, I’d love to stay.” Dante blushed and cleared his throat. It was cute he was embarrassed from being so excited to either spend time with me or meet my friends. “I would like that. Do you need any help?”

“Maybe later. Each month we have a theme, and everyone brings a dish, so the host doesn’t have to make a million things. I only have to make a couple of things and I can make them with my eyes closed. Why don’t we go relax out by the pool for a little bit and then we can get cleaned up before we start to cook?”

“You have a pool?”

“I do.” I knew I had a huge grin on my face, and I couldn’t help it. I loved my pool. It was my little getaway. “I had it put in last summer.”

“Do you have neighbors close by?” He grinned wolfishly, and one hand spasmed on my hip.

“Not really. Why?”

“I don’t have any swim trunks here and if there aren’t any noisy neighbors, I thought we could go skinny dipping.”

“I hate to burst your bubble, but the water isn’t warm. I’ve been too busy to use it, so I haven’t been heating it. I can turn it on and maybe in a couple of days we can get in the water.” I blushed at the thought of all we could get up to in the water.

“Are you asking me to stay the night again?”

What if we spent too much time together that we got tired of each other?

Maybe with someone else, but not Dante. The hope I saw in his eyes had me confessing what I wanted.

“I like having you here. It feels natural, like you belong here.”

“I agree.”

He stood with me in his arms and started walking. I didn’t ask him where he was taking us because I honestly didn’t care. He could take me anywhere and I’d go willingly. When he stepped outside, I gripped the blanket that was around us a little tighter and laughed.

I might not mind Dante seeing me naked, but I definitely didn’t want any unsuspecting visitor to get a look. If I could have, I would have wrapped Dante along with me.

“We may not be able to go skinny dipping today, but I can still enjoy feeling your delectable body next to mine while we relax,” he explained, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I laughed and wrapped my arms tighter around his neck. I liked the way he thought.

Dante sat us down on the lounger that was big enough for a few people. I fell in love with it when I saw one like it at my friend’s house and asked her where she got it. I loved being able to relax and fall asleep on it. Even though up until now I’d never shared it with anyone it was perfect for snuggling and more.

With my legs over his lap, I rested my head on Dante’s shoulder as we looked out over the pool and yard.

“This is nice. I can understand why you’d want to put a pool out here. It’s an amazing pool by the way. It’s like being on a tropical island and in the forest at the same time.”

“Thank you. I spend as much time out here as I can. As you know, it’s been rainy lately, so I haven’t been able to use it much. At night, twinkling lights come on and light it up along with some other outdoor lighting. We’ll probably eat outside tonight. My friend, Alex, loves the beach and hanging out here.”

One hand rubbed up and down my leg that was covered by the blanket. The other was curled around my waist. “How many people are coming over?”

“At least six adults and one kid. I’m not sure if Taylor and her family are coming or not. If they do, then it will be eight adults and three kids. And us.”

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